USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > Perth Amboy > Contributions to the early history of Perth Amboy and adjoining country : with sketches of men and events in New Jersey during the provincial era > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
Such is the history of St. Peter's Church, Perth Amboy, drawn from authentic sources, and I cannot better close the sketch than by appealing to those who like myself feel an in- terest in its prosperity, in the words of a former rector :- " To make it-now venerable for the length of time it has main- tained its standing, and respected for the many pious and distinguished individuals whom in a long succession it has numbered among its members and supporters-still an honor and a blessing to the city ;- to make it still more respected in the eyes of all abroad, and a standard here for the defence and maintenance of the precious doctrines of the gospel, and an example of the power of godliness over the hearts and lives of those who cherish the faith that was once delivered to the saints, and who profess their love for the habitation of God's house, and the place where his honor dwelleth." 56
56 Rev. Mr. Chapman's Discourses.
239
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
In 1809 there were connected with the parish 20 Families, the Communicants numbering 22.
In 1841 there were 28 Families and 38 Communicants.
In 1855 there are 47 Families and 59 Communicants.
From September, 1809, to August 1, 1855, there were 566 Baptisms.
Since 1812, when the first Confirmation was held by Bishop Hobart, 151 have renewed their baptismal vows in that apostolic rite.
The following is a complete list of the officers of the congre- gation to the present time, with the years of their election : 57
WARDENS.
William Eier,
1718 John Smyth,
1763-74
John Barclay,
1718-22 Stephen Skinner,
1772-74
Robert King,
1719
[Revolution.]
John Rudyard,
1720
Norris Thorpe,
1782-84
Wm. Burnet, " Governor,"
1721
John Johnston,
1782-89
John Stevens,
1722-25
John Halsted,
1785-96, 1800-01
John Parker,
1723-26
John Rattoone, 1790-1801, 1809-10
Robert L. Hooper,
1726
James Parker,
1797
John Hamilton,
1727-29, 1737-41
Ravaud Kearny,
1798-99
Michael Kearny,
1727-29
Andrew Bell,
1809-42
Andrew Johnston,
1730-41
Joseph Marsh,
1811-41
Fenwick Lyell,
1730-36
Abner Woodruff,
1841
Lewis Johnston,
1742-62
John R. Watson,
1842-55
Samuel Nevill,
1742-62
Edward Brinley,
1843-51
Samuel Sargant,
1763-71
James Parker,
1852-55
VESTRYMEN.
Thomas Gordon,
1718-22 John Barclay, 1730-32
John Rudyard,
1718-19, 21
Laurence Smyth,
1734-45
Robert King, 1718, 20-35, 44-45 William Cosby, " Governor,"
John Stevens,
1718, 26-30, 49-52
Robert L. Hooper,
1734-38
William Nicholls,
1719, 21
John Webb,
1735-40
Alexander Farquerson,
1719-20
Gabriel Stelle,
1737-38
John Sharp,
1720
Lewis Johnston,
1739-41, 63-73 1739
John Johnston,
1722-28, 30-31
Adam Hay,
George Leslie,
1722-29
Samuel Nevill,
1741
Michael Kearny,
1723-26, 30-33
Philip Kearny,
1742-74
Andrew Johnston,
1726-29, 42-62
John Deare,
1742-62
Heron Putland,
1726-28
Francis Brazier,
1744-45
John Parker,
1727-32
John Dodsworth,
1745
Fenwick Lyell,
1727-29, 37-41
Gerard Sayrs, 1749
Andrew Hay,
1729-39
John Smyth,
1749-62
John Hamilton,
1730-36, 42-45
George Leslie,
1750-52
1734
57 A dash between years indicates a continuance in office during the inter vening time.
240
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
John Barberrie,
1753-62
Abraham Webb,
1809-36
John Johnston,
1753-74 Philip Ten Eyck, 1809
Cortlandt Skinner,
1755-74 David Thorp,
1810-29
Samuel Sargant,
1757-62, 72
B. H. Tomlinson,
1811
Stephen Skinner, 1763-71
C. A. Forbes,
1812, 1816-17
James Parker,
1763, 74, 85-96
Abraham Thompson,
1812-19
Alexander Watson,
1763-74
George Buchanan,
1813-21
Jonathan Deare,
1770-74
William Hamilton,
1814-15, 30-31
Ravaud Kearny, 1770-74, 82-83,
Robert Arnold,
1816-17, 22-29
86, 91-93, 1797, 1800-01
Jeremiah Martin,
1818-30
Elijah Dunham, 1770-74
Richard Griggs,
1818-19
Frederick Smyth,
1774
Archer Gifford,
1820-21
John Rattoone,
1782-89
Abner Woodruff,
1822-25, 28-37
Thomas Lyell,
1782-84
F. W. Brinley,
1822-23
John Halsted,
1782-84, 99
Wm. Whitehead,
1824-34
Elias Marsh,
1782-86, 95, 98
Thomas G. Marsh,
1826-51
Stephen Deare,
1782-83
Lewis Gelding,
1827-54
John Griggs,
1784-85
Robert A. Thorp,
1830-35
Poole England,
1784-85, 88-90
Samuel Angus, 1830
Norris Thorp,
1785
Benoni Mandeville,
1834-37
Samuel Farmar,
1785-86
Charles C. Lawrence,
1836-37
Thomas Farmar,
1785-88
Jedediah Paine,
1837
Matthias Halsted, 1785-86, 88-94,97
James A. Nicholls,
1838-50
Richard Stevens,
1786-88
John Arnold,
1838-55
John L. Johnston,
1786-87
John R. Watson,
1839-41
Andrew Bell,
1787, 1789, 1808
Charles Hamilton,
1842
Michael Kearny,
1790
Charles McK. Smith,
1843-55
John Johnston,
1791-93, 95-96
Lawrence Kearny,
1851-55
Joseph Taylor,
1794-1801
Lawrence Boggs,
1852-55
Joseph Marsh,
1794-97, 1810
William King,
1852-55
Robert Palmer,
1798
Joseph D. Forbes,
1852-55
James Parker,
1799 -- 1837, 1843
Eber H. Hall,
1855
Jas. H. Kearny,
1809-11 S. V. R. Paterson,
1855
PRESBYTERIANS.
Very little information has been obtained of the formation of the Presbyterian congregation. The first notice of its ex- istence is found in the Minutes of the Eastern Proprietors, at a meeting held July 22d, 1731, when the following petition was presented, and acted on as is stated in the subjoined ex- tract :-
" The humble petition of some of the inhabitants of some of the City of Perth Amboy humbly petitioneth-
To the Hon. Council of Proprietors now sitting in Perth Amboy :
Whereas several of your petitioners have in the old Burial place so called, our parents, wives and children interred, we your petitioners hum- bly beg that your honorable house would take it into consideration and grant us a right of that piece of ground, that we may have a right to erect a meeting-house for the worship of God, and likewise for a Burial
241
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
place; and that it may be your Honorable Council's order that the said piece of ground may be dedicated to the said use and no other, and your humble petitioners will for ever pray.
John Matthie, John Gaschrie,
William Thompson, Thomas Inglis,
Thomas Loggans, James Leigh,
John Moore, John Herriott,
John Thompson, Samuel Moores,
Alexander Carnes."
" Which petition being taken into consideration by this Board, they are of opinion that the said piece of land do remain as formerly intended for a public Burial place for the inhabitants of this city. But that the petitioners have liberty to erect and build a meeting-house on the south- east corner of the same, and this Board do hereby lease, as far as in them lies, unto the said Petitioners, so much of the said piece of land, in the said south-east corner, as shall be necessary for that purpose not exceeding one chain square, for the term of one thousand years."
The land here referred to is situated on State formerly Back street, and from long occupancy is now known as the " Presbyterian Burying Ground," although set apart on the settlement of the town as a public cemetery, and no special or exclusive right having ever been granted to that congregation other than appears in the foregoing proceedings of the Board of Proprietors.
It is not probable that a congregation, regularly organized, existed at this time ; but between 1731 and 1735, the privi- lege accorded by the Proprietors was secured by the erection of a small building which long continued to be occupied by the Presbyterians as their house of worship. There is no evidence to be found of any settled minister, and the information ob- tainable of those who, from time to time, administered to the spiritual necessities of the small flock that was here gathered into a fold, from the time their edifice was built until its de- struction during the Revolution, is very limited. I am indebt- ed to the Rev. Richard Webster of Mauch Chunk for the fol- lowing items :-
" On the Synod Records, Sept. 17th, 1724, a supplication from some of the inhabitants of Perth Amboy, desiring sermon sometimes, being referred to the Presbytery of Philadelphia. [which then included both East and West Jersey] was ap-
16
242
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
proved by the Synod, and Mr. Anderson was appointed to write a letter to them." 58
"June 29th, 1735. Gilbert Tennent preached at Amboy on the 'Necessity of Religious Violence to Durable Happi- ness,' which was afterward published."
" From various circumstances I suppose that the Rev. John Cross of Baskenridge served Perth Amboy and, Staten Island, then constituting one congregation. August 2d, 1742, Amboy asked New Brunswick Presbytery to send to them the Rev. Charles McKnight, then just licensed ; a few months after- wards Baskenridge and Staten Island presented a call for him."
"In 1761 the South Ward of Amboy (South Amboy) ap- pears as supplicant for sermons. The Rev. Elihu Spencer, then residing at Eatontown in Monmouth, supplied that place, Shrewsbury, and Middletown Point, for years."
Previous to the revolution the meeting-house had become much dilapidated, and in 1764 an attempt was made to get a lottery authorized for its benefit, but without success. The late William Dunlap was the only individual known to the author who had worshipped within its walls or recollected its appearance. Subsequent to the revolution, and until the com- mencement of the present century, the meetings of the congre- gation were held either in the old Court-house or in private dwellings, but they had no settled minister.
In 1801 Captain John Angus, who had been a resident of Amboy for a few years, commenced a course of persevering efforts towards the erection of a new meeting-house ; and, proving the sincerity of his views by the personal donation of an eligible site, excited sufficient interest in the object both at home and in various parts of the country to induce liberal subscriptions and donations, and in May, 1802, the foundation was laid. The prosecution of the work was intrusted to Mr. Angus, Mr. David Wait, and Captain James Harriot.59
58 Mr. Anderson was the pastor in New York, and belonged to the Long Island Presbytery. His daughter was married and resided at Amboy. She was the ancestress of the Breese family.
59 Among the donations was a hand-
some folio Bible from the press of Isaiah Thomas, bearing this inscrip- tion : "The gift of General Ebenezer Stevens of New York to the Presbyte- rian Church, Perth Amboy, 21st Sep- tember, 1802."
243 .
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
To the energy and perseverance of Captain Angus is the con- gregation mainly indebted for the neat edifice it yet occupies, standing on the public square, of which a representation is here given.
For the following items of information the author is indebted to the Rev. Benjamin . Cory, at present (1855) the pastor of the con- gregation :-
" The new edifice was opened for divine service on Thursday the 9th day of June, 1803, with a sermon by Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith, President of the College of New Jersey, from the text " Re- THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI. member that Jesus. Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead."-(2d' Tim., 2, 8.)
" In January, 1802, after measures had been entered upon for the building of this house, the people invited Mr. Elias- Riggs, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New York, to settle. among them in the double capacity of minister of their embryo Church and teacher of a school in the Academy. He accept- ed of their invitation, and began his stated ministerial labors. among them on the 7th of March, and on the following Mon- day opened his school. Public worship was held in the Aca- demy till the Church was finished.
" On the 2d day of August, 1803, Mr. Riggs was ordained with a special reference to this field of labor. The ordination took place in the new meeting-house. Mr. Riggs remained about four years with the congregation, but was never installed as pastor.
" On the 28th of August, 1803, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was celebrated for the first time in Amboy, so far as:
244
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
we know, after the Presbyterian form-the number of com- municants being seven.60
" In October, 1807, a Mr. Keys appears on the records as the officiating minister, but he was not the settled pastor of the congregation, and continued only about a year.
"It next appears on the Session Book that the Rev. Peter Stryker received a call to the pastorate. Mr. Stryker was then minister of the Dutch Reformed Congregation at Belleville, New Jersey. He accepted the call and was installed Pastor Nov. 28th, 1809. The Installation Committee, appointed by the Presbytery, were the Rev. Doctor Roe and Rev. Messrs. Pic- ton and Carll. Mr. Picton preached the sermon from 1 Cor. 2 : 2, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." Dr. Roe presided, and gave the charge to the Pastor, and Mr. Carll gave the charge to the people. Mr. Stryker remained only about nine months, when he notified the congregation of his intention to leave them. The following is the minute in the case :- In a meeting of the Session held Aug. 28th, 1810, Mr. Stryker informed the Ses- sion that he had received a call from the congregations of Belleville and Stone House Plains in the Reformed Dutch ·connection, and said that for several reasons founded on a spe- cial call in Divine Providence, and the peculiar circum- stances of his present situation, he would accept of the call made upon him from these united congregations, and resign his present charge-not, however, without expressing much regret at leaving a people whose affectionate regards and marked attentions have laid him under great obligations ever to esteem and love them." [It is presumed Mr. Stryker imme- diately left Amboy, and for four years or more the congrega- tion was dependent upon occasional supplies, but whose ser- vices were obtained is not now known.]
" In Dec. 17th, 1814, the Rev. Joshua Young commenced preaching to the congregation ; he continued but for a very short time. From some traditions respecting him it would seem that his ministerial character soon became suspicious,
60 John Angus, Margaretta Angus, ton, Phebe Harriot, Rachel Friend, and Margaret Clark, Elizabeth Codding- John Lewis.
-
245
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
occasioning uneasiness among the people, and he ceased to be their minister.
" After this, about June 6th, 1816, the Rev. Josiah B. An- drews began his ministerial labors here. The particulars re- specting his settlement I am not able to furnish. He was pastor of the church between seven and eight years, when a very serious disturbance arose between him and the congrega- tion, which resulted finally in his removal.
" The congregation was then without a stated minister till 1828, when Mr. Nicholas A. Wilson, a licentiate under the care of the Elizabethtown Presbytery, became their preacher as a stated supply. He was shortly afterwards, by the request of the session, ordained with reference to Amboy as the field of his labors. Mr. Wilson was a most excellent and devoted man, and much beloved by the people. After remaining here between two and three years he removed to Philadelphia, where he shortly afterwards died, greatly lamented.
" The next after Mr. Wilson was the Rev. Peter H. Shaw. He came in 1831. His continuance was only about 16 or 18 months. He was succeeded by the Rev. David R. Gillmer. Mr. Gillmer came in 1834, and left after a brief term of about 11 months. The cause of his leaving was a change of views in regard to Church polity. He had an impression that the Episcopal form was more apostolical, and accordingly went out from among us. But whether he is still an Episcopalian I am not able to say. My impression is, however, that he is not. I think I heard of his coming back to the Presbyterian Church, and that he has settled somewhere in Pennsylvania." 6 1
The Rev. Benjamin Cory succeeded Mr. Gillmer, and en- tered upon his duties November 9th, 1834. He preached six months as a stated supply, and on 6th May, 1835, was ordained and installed pastor of the congregation. During his min- istrations both the temporal and spiritual condition of the congregation have much improved, and at no time during his
01 Mr. Gillmer was very young when he left Amboy. He subsequently applied to be admitted as a Candidate for Orders in the Episcopal Church, but failed to pass the preparatory ex-
amination, and his disappointment, it is thought, prevented any further at- tempts to connect himself with that denomination.
246
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
long pastorate of twenty-one years has it been more prosper- ous ; there are at the present time 59 pewholders and 144 communicants.
OFFICERS OF THE CONGREGATION. Ruling Elders and Deacons.
(The offices are united in the same person.)
John Angus, January 22d, 1804-died June 10th, 1817.
David Wait, do died November, 1810.
John Lewis, do died April, 1815.
Alexander Semple, 1810-removed to Pittsburgh, Sept., 1826.
John V. Crawford, Oct. 14th, 1822-removed to N. Brunswick, May, 1824.
John D. See, April 2d, 1836-removed August, 1840.
Zadoc Mundy, April 2d, 1836-removed August, 1837.
James Harriot, 1814-died Nov. 13th, 1848.
Samuel R. Ford, Oct. 14th, 1822-died August 1st, 1855.
Charles Ford, Feby. 22d, 1824-died June 15th, 1847.
*Samuel E. Woodbridge, April 2d, 1836.
*John D. See, August 5th, 1848.
David Crowell, Oct. 21st, 1849-died May 30th, 1853. *Daniel Selover, do.
Stephen G. Woodbridge, do -died January 30th, 1853.
* ornelius D. Selover, January 21st, 1855.
*Caleb C. Pierson, do.
TRUSTEES.
The names of the Trustees prior to 1838 cannot be given, the Trustees' Book having been destroyed by fire in 1840.
Benjamin Maurice, appointed 1838.
David Crowell;
66 1838.
Charles F. Maurice, 66
1838.
Edwin Ford,
66 1838.
Wm. J. Ford,
1838.
*John Wait, 1838.
Stephen G. Woodbridge, 1846.
Alexander M. Bruen, 66
1847.
*William Paterson, 66
1847.
Cornelius H. Schapps, 66
1847.
David T. Wait,
1847.
*Charles Keene,
66 1855.
*Edward J. Hall.
66
1855.
*Henry D. Tyrrell,
1855.
*William Hall,
66
1855.
BAPTISTS.
The first organization of a Baptist Congregation took place on the 26th August, 1818, clergymen of that denomination
* Present Officers.
247
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
having officiated in the place during the preceding year. Elder T. Winter was called to the charge of the congregation, and continued its pastor until 1823, when he was succeeded by Elder Jabez C. Goble. Religious services up to this period were held in the old Court-house or at the residences of indi- viduals, but their numbers increasing, measures were adopted for the erection of a meeting-house, and in 1824 the building was commenced :- it was not completed, however, for two or three years, and wore for several years the appearance it has in the subjoined sketch. This year (1855) it has under- WHITNEY & JOCELYN S gone extensive alterations, THE BAPTIST CHURCH-AS FIRST BUILT. consequent upon changes in the grade of the street on which it stands.
The successors of Mr. Goble have been :-
Elder J. Booth, called in 1826,
Elder - Bloomer, 66
1829,
Elder J. Sloper, 66 1832,
Elder T. Reekea, 1835,
Elder J. Blain, 66
1837,
Elder John B. Case, 66
1839,
Elder John Rodgers, 66
1842,
Elder G. F. Hendrickson 1845,
Elder J. M. Carpenter,
1849-50,
Elder John E. Reynolds,"
1852-53,
Elder B. S. Rogers, 66
1854.
On the organization of the congregation in 1818 there were 15 members. In 1854 the number of communicants was 69.
OFFICERS.
George Compton, elected Deacon, 1818.
Thomas Freeman, 1818.
Uriah Burdge, 1825.
James Compton,
1829 .*
John Hart, 1832.
William Hart, 1845 .*
John P. Woglum,
1848 .*
George F. Tryner, 66
1848 .*
* Now in office.
248
RELIGIOUS DEMOMINATIONS.
METHODISTS.
The services of Methodist preachers commenced in Perth Amboy about 1813 or 1814,62 but a regular congregation was not formed until 1818, and not until 1837 WA.W. was permanence given THE METHODIST CHURCH. to it by the erection of a small, neat edifice for its accommodation. The success of this undertaking was principally owing to the exertions of the Rev. Isaac Cross, who had officiated occasionally in the town, and who became in 1838 the first settled minister of the con- gregation. According to the rules of the Methodist Church Mr. Cross remained but two years, and his successors were as follows :-
1840-Benjamin Day, 1842-Josiah F. Canfield,
1843-Curtis Tully,
1844-Robert Lutton,
1846-Alexander Gilmore, 1848-John N. Crane,
1850-Jacob B. Fort,
1852-John W. Barrett,
1854-James H. Dandy.
When organized in 1818 there were only 12 or 15 members ; in 1839 they had increased to 70; in 1840 they numbered 87; in 1841, 98; in 1842, 106; in 1843, 107; in 1844, 102; in 1845, 105 ; in 1846, 103 ; in 1847, 108 ; in 1848,
62 Occasionally in earlier years a transient preacher would visit the place, and Bishop Francis Asbury, as early as 1772, says in his Journal (p. 20), under date of Thursday, Feb'y. 27th: " After having preached in a
large upper room at Mr. T.'s in Am- boy, where many came to hear, and I was much favored in my own soul ; an innkeeper invited me to his house and was kind enough to desire that I would call on him when I came again."
249
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
102 ; in 1850, 79 ; in 1852, 100; in 1854, 115 ; in 1855, 90.
TRUSTEES.
Joseph Palmer, 1836-43.
Abraham Sleight, 1846-55.
Medad Munson, 1836-38.
Abm. Thompson, 1846-52.
Digby Odlum, 1836-43. Benj. D. Kinsey, 1846.
Samuel Harriott, 1838.
David Noe, 1846-55.
Wm. Thomas, 1838-52.
Thomas M. Hull, 1846-47.
Franklin R. Street, 1838-43.
Wm. R. Freeman, 1847-55.
Willis Larkins, 1843-46.
Gilman Harned, 1852-55.
Cornelius Sleight,1843-52.
Joseph L. Crowell,1852-55.
Joel Smith, 1843-55.
ROMAN CATHOLICS.
The first services according to the rites of the Roman Catholic religion were held about the year 1842, in the house of Mr. James Tuite, on every alternate Sunday. In 1844 a neat brick church was erected on Centre street, and the con- gregation is now under the charge of the Rev. Thomas Quin.
Chapter VII .- Public Buildings and Places.
THE TOWN OR COURT HOUSE.
THE first intimation we have of a structure of this kind is in the Proprietary Minutes, under date of May, 14th, 1685, as follows :-
" It is agreed and ordered that the Town House be built on that piece of land fenced in by Thomas Warne, next Thomas Hart's and Clement Plumstead's lots, and in case any damage be done thereby to Thomas Warne's corn, now sowed, before reaping, that he be paid for the same."
It is uncertain where this lot was situated, but it was, pro- bably, one running through from High street to Water street, about the location of what has of late years been termed " the Lewis Place."
In April, 1696, twenty pounds were voted to Mr. Warne on condition that he released the lot again to the Proprietors, from which it would seem that the building was still standing upon it. They had however, previously, on the 5th May, 1695, directed Thomas Gordon to fit up one of the old houses belonging to them as a Court-house, under the advice of Gov- ernor Hamilton. Whether this continued to be occupied under the royal provincial government is not known.
In 1713 an act was passed for building and repairing Jails and Court-houses in the Province, and Amboy is particularly named as the site for the jail and court-house of Middlesex County. The building erected in conformity with this act stood on the north-east corner of High street and the Public Square, and served for both the triers and the tried, the prison being under the same roof with the court rooms. It is men- tioned as existing previous to 1718, and continued to be used
251
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PLACES.
not only for courts but also for legislative purposes, the sittings of the General Assembly being held within it.1 Each Gover- nor on his arrival-from Governor Hunter to Governor Frank- lin inclusive-proceeded to it in stately pomp to proclaim to the assembled throng the good pleasure of the Sovereign of England, to the effect that they should respect and obey his representative ; and beneath its roof did Whitefield preach some of his spirit-stirring sermons to attentive congregations. There is no memorial to bring to our view the aspect of the venerable structure that such associations might incline us to revere. In 1765 or '66 it was destroyed by fire-accidentally it is said, in the act providing for the erection of another- but there is a tradition that it was purposely set on fire by a man named Martin incarcerated in it for debt.2
On the destruction of this Court-house the General Assem- bly passed an Act, June 28th, 1766, authorizing the erection of another, and also of a jail, upon two lots of ground which had been allotted by the inhabitants for the purpose. The act provided for its erection " where the market-house stands so as to leave room for the market underneath," should the plan be approved of by Thomas Bartow, John Smyth, and Ste- phen Skinner ; the first two being named as commissioners to superintend the erection of the buildings.3 The approba-
1 During a part or the whole of Gov- 1793 Col. Hamilton), fifteen shillings ernor Morris's administration, how- per week from the Council. ever, the legislature did not meet within it. The Assembly occupied a room in the old Parker mansion, and the Council was accommodated else- where in private houses. Thus in the Bill for the support of the govern- ment, 1738, we read of an appropriation " To Mrs. Jannet Parker, for the Use of a Room, Fire Wood, &c., for the House of Representatives, the Sum of Thirty Shillings per Week, during this present Session.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.